VEREENIGING – Lesufi felt the wrath of the dilapidated state of the Vereeniging taxi rank on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 after he fell flat on his face in a pool of water that he tried to jump over.

Whilst many political heads, his entourage, taxi bosses and operators and commuters looked on helplessly, two officials tried to help the man to get up on his feet again.

The dramatic scenes played out during the official handover of the Vereeniging taxi rank to Gautrain set to be temporarily fixed for use as  taxi drivers and commuters had to live with for years after the initial R64 million taxi rank failed to materialize in 2015.

Lesufi was accompanied by Transport and Logistics MEC Kedibone Diale, Social Development MEC Mbali Hlophe, Sedibeng District Mayor Lerato Maloka and Emfuleni Local Municipality Mayor Sipho Radebe.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster on the sidelines, Thekiso Mokoena (32) said “the premier will now realize how the long overdue taxi rank should be completed by now. We tip toe around these pools of  water everyday and politicians don’t see the need to have this rank finished because they drive in their flashy cars,”.

Another commuter who refused to be named said it’s high time politicians see the need to finish as soon as possible.

“We see people fall everyday trying to jump this waterlogged temporary rank. Seeing the new Premier falling should have made him realize that his interventions should be quicker. We need a better rank,” she said.

Many commuters complained on the dire state and how they are robbed on a daily when moving from the civic centre to the temporary rank.

Some told the Sedibeng Ster team how month ends the Vereeniging town is a no-go area for shoppers.